NinjaDeathSlap said:
What if, for the next console generation, Microsoft got rid of MS points and let us use Gamerscore as currency?
The problems I have with the current system are twofold:
- I think that it is unfair that we should have to pay for downloads AND for a full Xbox Live membership, when on the PS3 you only have to pay for downloads.
- Although it is satisfying to get achievements, the Gamerscore that comes with them doesn't really serve any useful purpose.
Whereas I think using my idea (at least I hope it's my idea and nobody's already thought of it) would have three significant benefits.
- The system would be fairer because we would only have to fork out money for one thing, just like the PS3.
- Getting achievement would be even more rewarding if the Gamerscore had a useful purpose, and gamers would be more inclined to try for the more obscure/harder/more interesting achievement that usually come with the biggest payouts.
- Despite not making money through MS points anymore I think it would actually earn a bigger profit for Microsoft and the entire industry. The fairer system would persuade more gamers to buy Xbox's which helps Microsoft, and the idea of using Gamerscore earned from achievements to buy DLC will encourage gamers to buy more Xbox games to get their Gamerscore. This not only helps Microsoft, but the Dev's, Publishers, and Game Retailers too.
So That's my manifesto. Discussion value: Can this idea work? If so do you have anything of your own to add and would you be prepared to support this idea if it were presented to Microsoft? If this idea wouldn't work for some reason, can you please explain so I can correct/alter it.
I got about halfway down the page and was surprise to find no one had already said this but. No, you're not the first.
People have been suggesting this since Gamerscore was introduced. There's a reason it's done the way it is.
What if I want DLC but have 100% Gamerscore on all my games and have spent it?
What if I like having a big ePeen and the thought of parting with my gamer score is too much for me to bear so I never buy DLC?
Also. Pretty much everyone that'll be buying a 360 has one by now. From here on in it's a couple of different people buying them:
- kids who're getting older and want to get a console, who usually pick whatever the people they know have or if they don't know anyone with a console they end up with either a Wii or 360 due to price or a PS3 if they think that more expensive = better.
- Old people who want to keep active, they will probably get a Wii anyway, because they're the target audience and Nintendo work hard to get these people into Wii's.
- People who've been RRoD'd out of warrantee.
- People who already have a PS3 and want an exclusive or want something gaming related to spend money on.
- People who're getting in to gaming for the first time (or the first time in a couple generations) who will get what ever the sales person pushes or make a decision based on price, not niggly little features.
Also, PSN is now no longer free for a full subscription, but a full subscription is not necessary to play online.
And you see, the whole point of the Gamerscore is bragging rights. That's it. If you make it currency then Gamerscore means nothing to plenty of people. Including me.
It already means nothing to many, why take it away from the few who care.
On the "Unfair to pay twice" issue:
If you don't want to play online, don't pay for Gold XBL.
If you don't want DLC don't buy MS points.
The thing is it's not unfair to pay for two services separately from each other.
And, this will not happen. At all. Just so you know. You may find MS point bonuses for milestones one day but there's no incentive for MS to do this, people already get Gamerscore, and they already pay for MS points; and by the way, Gamerscore is distributed by the devs, not MS. If you want to hear about easy Gamerscore farming look up a GS boosting guides online, there's guides for something stupid like 10,000 GS in 2 weeks out there.